Gaming machine licences and entitlements

The way gaming machine entitlements can be traded in South Australia has changed. Learn more about the new Gaming Machine Entitlement Exchange (GMEX). To operate gaming machines (known as pokies or poker machines) in South Australia you must:

  • have a gaming machine licence, and
  • hold a gaming machine entitlement for each gaming machine in your possession.

Gaming machine licences

To have a gaming machine licence you must have, or have applied for, one of these liquor licences:

Each gaming machine licence specifies the maximum number of gaming machines approved for a venue.

The most any venue can have is 40 machines.

If less than 40 machines have been approved for your venue, you can apply to Consumer and Business Services (CBS) to increase the maximum number of approved machines. You may need to undertake a community impact assessment, depending on the number of machines you want to increase.

Gaming machine entitlements

When a new gaming machine licence is granted, a licensee will need to purchase gaming machine entitlements. This can be done either:

Each gaming machine entitlement gives the licensee the right to operate a single gaming machine at their venue.

It's an offence to operate a gaming machine without holding an entitlement.

The number of gaming machine entitlements held by a licensee cannot be more than the maximum number of gaming machines which have been approved for the venue. This is stated on the licence.

As a licensee, you can choose not to own or operate a gaming machine, even if you have an entitlement.

Buy, sell or move an entitlement

Gaming machine entitlements can only be purchased, sold or moved between gaming venues in one of three ways:

  • through GMEX
  • under a contractual agreement entered into with Club One, subject to approval by the commissioner
  • under an arrangement between licensed non-profit associations, subject to approval by the commissioner.

Any changes to the number of entitlements held by a licensee must be approved by the commissioner and will be stated on the gaming machine licence. This will not affect the maximum number of gaming machines that are approved for a venue.

Gaming machine venues and entitlements held in South Australia - CBS

Club licensees

If a gaming machine licence is held by a club licensee, entitlements can be transferred to another club licensee who also holds a gaming machine licence. This is under an arrangement approved by the commissioner.

Club licensees are also able to amalgamate their gaming machine licence with another club in certain circumstances.

Amalgamating club gaming machine licences

Contact CBS Gambling Team

Email: gamblingadministration@sa.gov.au

Phone: 131 882 and select option 6

Post:
GPO Box 2169
Adelaide SA 5001

Personal barring queries

If you want to be barred or have questions about your barring phone or text 0427 051 300

For all other queries, including venue queries relating to barrings, phone 131 882.


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Page last updated 10 February 2025

Provided by:
Attorney-General's Department
URL:
https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/business-and-trade/gambling/running-a-gaming-venue/gaming-machine-entitlements
Last Updated:
10/02/25
Printed on:
26/07/25
Copyright statement:
SA.GOV.AU is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Licence. © Copyright 2025
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